Braking means fob connected



E. A. ROCKWELL [BANS rbn coxmscun mums July 20, 1948.

F11 Juno 9, 19

3 Shun-Shut l ATT July 20, 1948. a A. ROCKWELL BRAKIIG [BANS FOR CORRECTED VBHIG'LIS 3 Shoots-Shut. 3

Filed Jimd 9, 1944 n I Ill/ll Edward Rob/Eweli pasta July 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 BRAKING MEANS FOR CONNECTED vEnrcLas I Edward A. Rockwell, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 9,1944, Serial No. 539,582

' 11 Claims. 401. 188-3) ing through the entire series thereof. A further object is thus to provide effective individual control of the diil'erent units oi 'a trailer series so as to render the units of the series independently operable as far as possible. my invention will appear from the detailed scription of the same hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one form thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a brake controlling system applied to one or any number of a series of trucks or trailers connected together in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section oi a hand con-. trolled valve mechanism used thereon;

Further oblects of Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a coupling with a plunger actuator used in controlling the fluid valve;

Fig, 4 is a horizontal section of a double check valve used in connection therewith; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representationpf a series of trucks or trailers connected together in accordance with my invention. In the drawings, I have shown a series of automotive vehicles I, 2 and 3 which may be comprised of tractors or trailers or any one or more of which may be a tractor or trailer and the I Each of remainder thereof tractors or trailers. the vehicles I, 2 and 3 may be equipped with the same kind of system for controlling the brakes and any number or all of the vehicles may be controlled from any one or more of the series of vehicles. Fig. 1, diagrammatically, a brake controlling system such as may be applied to any one or more of the vehicles I, 2 and 3, but which is preferably applied to each of the vehicles. For this purpose I have provided a source of hydraulic pressure produced by an electric motor 4, driven from any suitable source of power, which drives a pump '6, the said motor and pump being constructed and arranged as shown in my Patent No. 2,298,512, upon Accumulator for supplying liquid under pressure, granted October 14, 19,42. The said pump 6 receives a supply of low pressure liquid By way of example, I have shown in from a pipe 6 which is connected to a reservoir 1' having the usual vented filling cap 8. The liquid,

after having been placed under pressure by the pump 6, passesthrough a check valve 9 to a. pressure accumulator chamber or reservoir Iii in a pressure accumulator Ii which ispreferably con-' structed as shown in Fig. 6 of my-Patent No. 2,298,512 referred to above. The said pressure accumulator II, as set forth in said patent, is provided with a circuit breaker I: which is of any desired construction but inwhich the accumulator details are shown in my said Patent No. 2,298,512, the circuit breaker I2 being connected by wires l3 and I4 leading. from any suitable source of electric current to the electric motor 4 so that when the hydraulic pressure in the accumulator reaches a given maximum it will operate the circuit breaker I2 to break the circuit of the said motor 4 and complete said circuit when the hy-v draulic pressure falls below said maximum. High pressure liquid from the accumulator II is delivered by a pipe ii to a high pressure inlet I6 in a pressure liquid valve casing II. Said valve casing II has within the same a sliding tubular valve member Ma. The said tubular valve member Ila is-operated by a hand lever or manual controller I6 which is clamped on the outside of a sleeve [9 by a screw 20. The said sleeve I9 is splined to a screw stem and a screw 22secures them together. The said screw stem 2| has a screwthread 22 which meshes with an internally screwthreaded block 24 having a seal 25. The said screw-threaded block 24 is also screw-threaded to an external sleeve 26. The external sleeve 26 is carried by a pivot 21 between ears28 of the valve casing I1 and is held thereon by a screw 29 passing'through 9. lug 30 on the external casing 26. Within said casing 26 the screw stem 2| presses against an internal sleeve 3i having a centering rod 32 within one end of a coil spring 33, the other end of which is located around a centering pin 34 on a disk 36 which presses against a plunger 66 on a guide disk 31 located within a sleeve 36 screw-threaded in the valve casing I], which contains the said tubular valve member Ila. Within the screw-threaded sleeve 38 there is provided a U-shaped rubber seal 39 located within an annular retainer ring. Furthermore, within the plunger- 38 there is a small spring 4i pressing outwardly on a small plunger 42, the other end of which is received in a recess 43 in a disk-shaped valve member 44 inorder to lightly hold the disk-shaped valve member 44 against a valve seat 46 on one end of the tubular valve member Ila. The said tubular valve member I'Ia has a longitudinal passageway 46 through the same in which there is carried a coil spring 4| supported on a screw-threaded plug 4! carried in the valve casing II. The other end of the spring. 48 rests against a shoulder 50 in the longitudinal passageway 46. The incoming high pressure liquid from,

the pipe I! is received ina chamber il in which there is located an apertured spacing ring 52 having radial apertures 83 and within the said chamber II the tubular valve member I'Ia has an annular tapered modulating valve '4 on the outside thereof which seats against a valve ring *2 having a rubber seal 6' adjacent to the spacing member 2. When the valve niember lie is moved by the valve disk 44 to unseat the valve 54, 58 the high pressure liquid is received in an annular chamber 51 on the outside-of the tubular valve member I'Ia and thence passes by a series of radial apertures 58 into the longitudinal passageway 46 and thereafter into the end chamber 41 and out through a pipe 59 for delivery of the modulated high pressure liquid for the operation of the brakes. The spacing member 52 is supported against an annular rubber seal 60 which is in turn supported by a spacing member 6| having apertures 62, from the screw plug 49. The valve ring 55 is also supported against a rubber seal 62a which in turn is supported against a spacing ring 630, having apertures 64, and which is supported against the screw sleeve 38 having a rubber seal 65. The valve casing II, when the valve 44, 45 is open. delivers the exhaust liquid by a pipe 46 back to the reservoir I. when the said tubular valve member Ila is operatedto open the valve 54, 55 to permit passage of modulated high pressure liquid therefrom, which has been received by the pipe IS, the pressure liquid is delivered therefrom by the outlet pipe 59 and the said medulated high pressure liquid is thence delivered to a double check valve 68 to which it is connected by a valve fitting 69. The inner end of the fitting 69 has a valve seat III which cooperates with a cylindrical valve II, provided with one or more longitudinal recesses I2 to permit the passage of liquid when the valve II is located away from the valve seat I0. In its lower position the valve II is located against a valve seat I3 on a valve fitting I4 which is connected to a pipe I5. Within the casing 68, there is a chamber I8 which communicates with outlet pipes "and Ila, the latter leading to front wheelbrake hydraulic cylinders 11b and Ho. The pipe 11 has a fitting I8 connected toja T-pipe connection I! provided with flexible pipes 80 and SI connected to two rear wheel brake hydraulic cylinders 82 and 83 respectively.

The high pressure inlet pipe I enters the annular chamber Si in the valve casing II, which is always in open through connection from the pipe I5 to a high pressure liquid pipe 84 which leads to a modulator valve casing 85 containing a tubular valve member constructed the same as the tubular valve member I'Ia in the valve casing I1, and which is operated in the same way except that it is not equipped with the manual operating handle It but has a plunger just like the plunger 31 previously described. This modulating valve casing I5, furthermore, has a return low pressure discharge pipe 86 which is connected to an inlet 81 on the valve casing II where it communicates with an annular chamber 88 therein which is also in communication with the pipe 66. The plunger 36 is adapted to be operated from a coupling 80,

having bayonet joint pins ll located on the truck or trailer in front of said plunger 14, and which is constructed just like the similar couplings hereinai'ter described. When the plunger Ii is thus operated the modulated high pressure liquid will be delivered by-a pipe 9| to a double check valve 92 constructed just like the double check valve 88, and which is connected to the outlet pipe 1| leading to the double check valve 4|. It will be noted, however. that the double check valve ll, while being constructed the same as the double check valve 68, is in a horizontal position instead of a vertical position so that the cylindrical valve member II therein moves between the inlet from the pipe 8i and the inlet from a pipe 93, leading to the double check valve 92, the said inlet pipe 03 being arranged to receive the high pressure liquid discharged from a valve casing 44 which has a tubular valve, constructed the same as the valve within the casings I1 and 41, and is provided with an operating plunger I! adapted to be operated by a coupling member 06 on the vehicleto the rear and which is constructed like the coupling I! hereinafter described in detail.

, The low pressure liquid released from the valve casing 84 is conveyed away by a pipe 41 to the reservoir 1. The supply oi high pressure liquid to the valve casing 94 is received from a pipe II which is connected by a fitting l! to the delivery I side 01' the pump III.

Furthermore, the modulated high pressure liquid delivered by the pipe 59 from the valve casing II is connected by means of a fitting III to a branch pipe IIlI leading to a T-pipe connection I02, one side of which is connected by a pipe I03 to a hand shut-ofl valve III4 having an operating handle I05 which in turn is connected by a flexible pipe I 08 to. a coupling -Il'I constructed like the couplings I9 and 86, for connection to and operation of the same kind of brake system on the vehicle in front and which, for this purpose. is provided with a valve casing Ill containing a valve constructed the same as the valve in the casing I1 and which has an operating plunger IM'adapted to be operated by the modulated pressure liquid and coupled to the coupling I". Also, the said T-pipe connection I0! is connected by a, pipe IIII to a hand valve III constructed like the hand valve HM and having an operating handle III. This valve III is connected by a flexible pipe II3 to a coupling part II4 which is constructed like the couplings ll, 08 and Ill. The said couplin part H4 has within the same a piston IIIi provided with an annular rubber seal II and a forwardly directed stop rod III which, in its end position, contacts with the interior of the casing of the coupling part II 4. This forms a chamber III to receive the modulated 1 plunger I20 passing outwardly through a cap III screw-threaded within the casing of the coupling part Ill and having an annular stop Illa cooperating with the piston IIB. The said coupling part II4. furthermore, has arecess I22 adjacent to the outer end of a valve casing I23 on the vehicle to the rear and having a spring I24 which is arranged to secure the parts together while the coupling part I I4 and valve casing I23 are coupled together. It will be understood that the valve casing I23, forming one part of the coupling, and the other part of the coupling II4, as in the case of similar couplings and valve casings at the four corners of the vehicle, may be coupled together or fastened by bayonet joints of any desired or usual type, so that in this way any number of vehicles, having brake operating systems of this character, may be coupled together in order that, at the front or rear or both ends of a Particular vehicle, a coupling and valve casing on one end of the vehicle may be attached or coupled to-.

gether with a coupling and valve casing on the adjacent end of the adjacent vehicle. However, when each particular coupling and its valve casing are disconnected there will be no escape of liquid from either thereof, but when connected together there will be the means of communicating hydraulic pressures from the coupling to the valve casing but without, however, the passage oi the liquid from one to the other.

'It will be understood, of course, that each of the vehicles or all thereof may have the customary steering column I connected by a steering rod I26 to steering armslfl and I2. on the front wheels, respectively.

In the operation of the system, it will be under- Y stood that the brakes on any one of the vehicles,

operated alone or in series, will be controlled by the movement of the handle it or-any other similar manual operating means, so that by the closing of the valve ll, and the opening to the ever, themaximum pressure is reached the circult breaker II is operated to disconnect the circuit from the motor 4. For instance, when the brake handle II is operated, the accumulator having therein liquid under a definite pressure, provided by the pump I driven by the electric motor extent desired of the valve '54, BI, themodizl'ated high pressure will be delivered by the pipe II and thence by the double check valve 68 to the pipe 11 and thence to the cylinders 82 and 83 so as to apply the brakes on the respective wheels. Furthermore, when the particular vehicle is connectedto one or more other vehicles the connection of the various couplings to other valve casings will enable all of the other vehicles connected in series to have the brakes of said other vehicles controlled by the said handle 18 when desired. For example, when the high pressure modulated liquid is received in the coupling ill it will operate the plunger 36 and consequently operate the modulating valve within the valve casing I" to apply the delivered modulated high pressure liquid therefrom to the brakes for the operation of the same on the vehicle on which the valve casing I23 is located. Furthermore, on the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle carrying the handle iii, the brakes on the vehicle in front thereof can be similarly controlled by the coupling mem-- ber 96. Also, the vehicle carrying the handle ll can be likewise controlled by a similar handle on the vehicle at the front thereof by means of the coupling 89 and the valve casing". In other words. not only can the individual vehicle be controlled by this system but any one of a series of such vehicles connected together can be operated to control the brakes on all .of the series and without the transfer of any liquid from one of the vehicles to any of the others. Or, in fact, the application of the brakes could be, if desired, controlled simultaneously from all of the series, from a plurality of individual vehicles bythe simultaneous operation of the manual controlling handles on these several vehicles. However, when the vehicles are uncoupled from the series there is no loss of liquid as the liquid for each vehicle is retained within the system of the particular vehicle. Throughout the operation of the braking system for each particular vehicle a given desired high pressure of the'high pressure liquid is maintained by means of the spring accumulator 88 which accumulates the desired maximum pressure in the liquid by energizing the motor 4 and driving the pump 5 when the liquid falls below the said maximum pressure. when, how- 4 until the motor circuit is broken by the circuit breaker II, the pressure liquid "in modulated amounts will be delivered by the valve 84, 55, after closing the valve 44, IE, to the pipe Bl, to the double check valve I, to the pipes l1 and Ila, and from the-pipe 11 to the rear brake cylinders 82 and I and by the pipe 11 into the brake cylinders 11b and lie. Simultaneously with the application of the pressure liquid to the brake cylinders I2, 83, lllrand l'l c the modulated pressure liquid will pass by the pipes H0 and I08 to similar control valves III and III! to control in the same way vehicles in the rear or front of the car carrying the valve l8. When-the valve I, 58 is closed and the valve, I is opened the liquid from the brake cylinders 8!, N, "b and "c will be discharged from the valve ll, 45 to the pipe Cl and thence to the reservoir I, from which it is supplied to the pump I to be put under pressure again. This same kind of actuation or control of.

"and the resulting'modulated pressures are de-,- livered by the'pipes II and", respectively, wherei as the discharged liquid is returned by the pipes I and II, respectively, to the storage reservoir 1. The modulated pressure liquid from the pipes 9i and ll, respectively, is delivered to the double check valve 68, from which the modulated pressure liquid can be delivered to the front and rear brake cylinders H. II, 11b and "c from any one i or all or the pipes II, "and I.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may made therein without departing from the spirit of the same. I

I claim:

1. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together,

and a manual controlling device each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable ini dependently of the other accumulators, for supplying power pressure liquid thereto and a reservoir connected between the accumulator and the valve to receive the discharge from the-valve and including a double check valve connected between the deliveries of a plurality of the modulating valves, located on each of said plurality of vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure from one or more of said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the braking means on one or more of said plurality of vehicles from each and all of the same simultaneously.

2. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of'the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device each comprising -a modulating valve, an accumulator. operable independently of the other accumulators, for supplying power pressure liquid theretaand a reservoir connected between the accumulator and the valve to receive the discharge from the valve and including a double check valve connected between the deliveries or a plurality of the modulating valves, located on each oi said plurality of vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure from one or more of said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the braking means on one or more oi said plurality of vehicles from each and all oi the same simultaneously. the said braking means on one of said plurality being hydraulic and having .a mechanical connection adapted to operate the braking means on another said plurality of vehicles.

3. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of the individual pling, and has no fluid transference to said first mentioned one of said plurality, and each of said plurality and its adjacent vehicle having such a disconnectable coupling as well as a disconnectable hydraulic brake operating valve cooperating therewith.

vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable independently of the other accumulators, ior supplying power pressure liquid thereto and a reservoir connected between the accumulator and the valve to receive the discharge from the valve and including a double check valve connected between the deliveries of a plurality of the modulating valves, located on each of said plurality of vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure irom one or more of said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the brakins means on one or more of said plurality of vehicles from each and all of the same simultane- -ously, the said braking means on one 0! said plurality being hydraulic and having a mechanical connection adapted to operate the braking means on another of said plurality of vehicles on which the braking means is hydraulic and has no fluid transference to said first mentioned one of said plurality.

4. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable independently of the other accumulators, tor supplying power pressure liquid thereto and a reservoir connected between the accumulator and the valve to receive the discharge from the valve and including a double "check valve connected between the deliveries of a plurality of the modulating valves, located on each of said plurality of vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure from one or more of said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the braking means ,on one or more of said plurality ofvehlcles from each and all of the same simultaneously, the said braking means on one or said plurality being hydraulic and having a mechanical connection adapted to operate the braking means on another ofsai'd plurality of vehicles on which the braking means is hydraulic, and provided with a disconnectable coupling, and has no fluid transi'erence to said first mentioned one of said plurality.

5. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality oi the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device, each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable independently of the other accumulators, for supplying power pressure iiquid thereto and a reservoir connected between the accumulator and 8. A succession oi. connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable independently oi the other accumulators, for supplying power pressure liquid thereto and areservoir connected between the accumulator and the valve to receive the discharge from the valve and including a double check valve connected between the deliveries 01 a plurality of the modulating valves, located on each of said plurality of vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure from one or more at said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the braking means on one or more of said plurality of vehicles from each and all of the same simultaneously, the said braking means on one oi said plurality being hydraulic and having a mechanical connection adapted to operate the braking means on another of said plurality of vehicles on which the braking means is hydraulic, and provided with a disconnectable coupling, and has no fluid transference to said first mentioned one of said plurality, and each of said plurality and its adjacent vehicle having such a disconnectable coupling as well as a disconnectable hydraulic brake operating valve cooperating therewith.

7. A succession of connected vehicles having a braking means on a plurality of the individual vehicles thereof, said braking means being constructed and connected so as to operate together, and a manual controlling device each comprising a modulating valve, an accumulator, operable independently of the other accumulators, for supplying power pressure liquid thereto and a resof vehicles constructed and arranged to transmit liquid pressure fromione or more, of said vehicles simultaneously so as to operate the braking means on one or more of said plurality of vehicles from each and all of the same simultaneously, the said braking means on one of said plurality being hydraulic and having a mechanical connection adapted to operate the braking means on another of said plurality of vehicles, and comprising a conduit for high pressure liquid, the said manual controlling device comprising a pump in circuit with the accumulator and electrically controlled by the latter to enable the braking means-to receive the modulated pressure.

8. A succession of connected vehicles, each having a power unit and a brake operable by the power unit aswell as a combinedcoupling and valve with a valvecasing between adjacent vehicles ofsaid succession, theyalve having a plunger operating the same, said plunger and one part of the coupling being on one-'of the adjacent vehicles and the-otherpart of; the coupling being adjacent to ,said-vaiveand its part of the coupling,,the other part of the coupling being so located that the-;plungeris' operable from said other part-..of thefJc'oupiing on the other one of the adjacent'vehlcles, and control means on one of the vehicles for; operating said valve at will to control the operatiomotabrake.

9. A succession'oiconnected vehicles, each having a power unit and a brakeeopenable .by the power unit as well asa combined coupling and valve between adjacent vehicles of said succession, the valve having a plunger operating the same, said plunger and one part of the coupling being on one of the adjacent, vehicles and the other part of the coupling 'anda' second plunger for operatingthevalve being adjacent to said valve. and its part of the coupling,v the other part of the couplingbeing so locatedthat the plunger is operable from said other partlof the coupling on the other one or the adjacent vehicles, and control means on oneof the vehicles for operating said valve at will to control the'operation of abrake' 10..A succession of connected vehicles, each having a powerunit andabrake operable by the power-unit as well as a combined coupling and a valve betweenladiacentvehicles of .said

succession, thevvalve having a plunger operating the same, said plunger and one part of the coupling being on one of the adjacent vehicles, and the other part of thecoupling being adjacent to said valveand-its part of the coupling, the other part of the coupling being so located that the plunger is operable from said other part oi the coupling on the other one of the adiacentvehicles,

I on the other one: of the adjacent vehicles, and

control means, comprising amanually operable and control means, comprising a manually operable hydraulic modulating valve connectedbe tween the power unit and said plunger, on one 01 the vehicles for operating said valve at willto control the operation of a brake.

11. A succession of connected vehicles, each having a power unit and a brake operable by the power unit as well as a combined coupling and valve between adjacent vehicles of said'succes-' sion,=the valve havinga plunger operating the same, said plunger and one partof the coupling being on one of the adjacent vehicles and the other part of the coupling and a second plunger for operating the valve being adjacent to said valve and its part of the coupling, the other part oi the coupling being so located that the plunger is operable from said other'part of the couplinghydraulic modulating valve connected between thepower unitandsaid plunger, on one of the vehicles for operating said valve at will to'control; the operation or a brake. 1

D AR A. ROCKWELL. v

m mas crrnn The following references'are of record in. the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

